ORIGIN

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TRICK... OR TREAT?

With Doctor Fun!

Deep in the swamps of Cetus, there was a... disturbance. A trickle of magical potential that rippled through the caves, drawing attention of an odd sort--the kind of feeling that sent a shiver up one's spine and sent the hackles rising. It didn't feel threatening, but it didn't exactly feel safe, either.

It felt, for those with the will to confront it, exciting.

___

A strange creature, man-sized and broad, shuffled around his little clearing. He had a campfire set among the damp shelter of the Crags, the giant spiders hanging overhead careful to stay out of the light. Their eyes gleamed, unblinking, as they watched him prepare his camp. A little black bag was opened; a tree stump was set up as a table. Implements--unknown to the caves, but silver and gleaming wickedly--were laid carefully alongside a spool of thick sutures.

The creature had a robe and cloak of feathers--his own form, rather than true clothing--and a crow-like head, with large, staring eyes. The only real clothes he wore were a hat--black as the rest of him--and, if one were to count it, the cane topped with a silver bird and tipped with a silver point.

He filled a pot with swamp water, and went about boiling it before pouring it into little glass bottles and vials. And as he finished, he began to call out.

"Hello, hello--is there anyone heeeere? I--CAW--am the Doctor! Doctor Fun!"

Doctor Fun paused and muttered to himself, as if confused, then clacked his beak and continued.

"Does anyone wish to be--IMPROVED? HA! HA-CAW-HAH! Please, step right up--don't be afraid!--I'll make you better than you ever dreamed!" He ruffled his feathers, standing upright, all his preparations complete.

"The Doctor is in!"

_____

Doctor Fun is here for Halloween 2022! Any characters joining this thread may request an "improvement" at his hands. These characters will be returned to their chrysalis, and emerge in time for Halloween itself--on October 29th!--with a randomly created GM-designed mutation. (All encounters are considered to occur on October 15th, the date of the post!) Designs will be posted as they are created!

These mutations are generally Halloween-themed, but will by and large be as useless as they are creepy or silly. Doctor Fun is all about fun, after all. (He's not actually a real doctor. We don't know if he even has a PhD.)

Have... well, fun!

Should Rue be this far from Draco and the Forge? Probably not.

But something inexorable lured them through distant tunnels, like a shiny bobber lures a fish. Stepping on claws that acted like stilts in the mud, Rue plodded through Cetus, into the back corner, getting more eager with each step.

The Doctor that greets them is odd in an interesting way. I like this guy, they decide, watching him fuss over his pot for a while. And improvement is so tempting.

"Hehe..," they cackle, grinning up at the Doctor with a sideways grin. "What could you do for little old me?"

Flop. Flop. Flop.

Days spent in Fornax and Pisces had been fun and all, but something in Lorelei yearned for adventure. That's how she'd found herself bounding through the mud in Cetus. The muck got all over her -- she'd have to wash it all off with a good swim -- but she supposes that maybe that's all part of the fun.

Doctor Fun's cawing had signaled her attention very well, and in time she was lying on the ground by his campfire, enjoying the comforting warmth after getting coated in cold sludge.

"Fun! I like fun. Can I have some fun?" she asks with enthusiasm, looking up at him with an eager eye.

They weren't doing all too well as of late.

A cycle ago they awoke in a hunk of black opal- for the second time, which was confusing and disorienting in of itself. Not to mention the extra chunks of gemstone they could not remove from their forelegs, no matter how hard they tried. And maybe that extra weight on their legs was why they felt so tired, so... faded. Getting to this cave has been a large undertaking in of itself- and all they had to show for it was mud and muck.

So, Doctor Fun's campfire and loud, crowing caw drew them in, if only out of desire from respite from the swamp. But the Doctor's offers were intriguing, true. Improvement.. Could he fix what had happened? If there was even anything to fix.

"How can you improve me?" Spoke the left head, "We would like to see you try."

(Note: Im intending to use a Mut Slot alongside whatever Doctor Fun gives out. I don't know if that'd affect anything)

Fracture my spine

To claim it hadn't set forth from Leo in quite some time would be a lie. Karambit nowadays often found reason to leave the lush jungles it was used to. On many an occasion, this was simply to pursue exotic new options, ingredients whose organs, blood, and bones might provide a certain pizazz to their artwork which native species lacked; after all, one could only find so many ways to have fun with a kooru before boredom began creeping in, no matter how much their friendship was so dearly appreciated. Other times it was just to enjoy the delightful heat and damp that had infused the other caves to the point they'd started to become as welcoming an environment as its own home.

And then there were those desperate, droning moments when they wandered, restless, in search of the tiniest of things: an item, some curiosity that might bring voice back to their Creo. The sibling who blinked no longer, who despite its best efforts never seemed to respond to love anymore. Whose head stared and gave no indication of comprehension, fear, concern, or fondness.

The last possibility, fortunately, was not what characterized this particular adventure. Cetus, even though plagued by endless murk, possessed a feature much admired by the buzzing insect monster: dreadful muck. A fantastic mess to roll about in, only piles of viscera could contend with its repulsive qualities. To discover a place where it seemed to be in such great supply Karambit took as a boon, and so it indulged in the opportunity provided to bath its moist flesh in that mud, certain to work the substance into its every squelching grey fold.

This was the state it was in when this Doctor called out into the mist, and the name heard—Fun, a concept cherished if not understood in the conventional fashion—combined with the raucous call lifted it from its revolting business.

It would not arrive unannounced; eager as usual in approach, stealth was an impossibility for the monster, buzzes rocking the mishmash of flesh and keratin that was its body. But, gargantuan and unruly, Karambit was capable of one form of entrance: obnoxious and explosive. Uncaring of how rock bit and sliced into meat, it rammed itself as best as it could into the Crags. Spindly legs stabbed for purchase on the ground, dancing around but somehow miraculously missing the scorch of the campfire.

Whether everyone else in the vicinity was lucky enough to avoid sickle claws jabbing into them from on high? That was yet to be known. The monster's thoughts were on matters more important.

"Im-prrroooovvve?" it screeched. "What isss im-prrrroooovvve?"

The air quivered in tandem with the ear-bleeding noises filling it. Mud shook off in thick globs as the monster vibrated in place.

"Doesss it meeean make prrretty? I like prrretty. You im-prrooovve me, I can prrreetty you."

For someone named Fun, his appearance did not fit. Karambit clearly had to rectify this in return for any kindness given. After all, it wouldn't be fair for someone to remain ugly while offering to beautify others.

And swear that you're mine

TRICK... OR TREAT?

With Doctor Fun!

Ahh--and here came his first patient!

Rue was greeted with one gleaming eye, then the other, as the Doctor examined them with tilting head. "A great deal!" was his enthusastic reply. One point of a finger later, and a flash of orange light, and Rue would feel themselves... drifting away. Sleep, and then (eventually) a chrysalis, though they'd certainly hear Doctor Fun still speaking as he approached--as he loomed over them, cheerful but distorting wildly in their fading sight. "I think... a little extra here, and a little off the top there, and we can try this..." (There was then a lot of snipping, a little bit of disgusting quasi-medical questionably-ethical experimentation--but Rue would be asleep for that. Thankfully.)

Rue will awaken from their chrysalis with an appearance like a patchwork ragdoll: as though their pelt has been cut into pieces and sewn back together with "stitches" made of their gemstone: Oiled Kornerupine. This black-stained green will seem to trace haphazard lines over their body in places where the fur direction will no longer quite match up. Damage to the gemstone sutures (or staples, really) will hurt, but the stitches don't really contain any magic, and can't be used to Give Life. It isn't clear if Doctor Fun intended to just cover Rue in stitches, or if he had another plan in mind and it just went terribly wrong.

Lorelei was greeted with equal enthusiasm. "Of course! Of course you can! Caw-hahAHA!" Another point of a finger, another flash of orange light, and then--"Oooh! We'll give you an extra one of those, I think!" And away would drift her consciousness, to that possibly ominous statement.

Lorelei will awaken with a second head grown beside the first. The attachment's sort of to one side, rather than perfectly symmetrical. The second brain doesn't have a new personality, but the two heads can be controlled somewhat independently, after some practice--and Lorelei now has a "spare" head. Should something decapitate a head later in life and should Lorelei survive long enough to chrysalize, she will survive with one remaining head--and a stump. At least "spare head" has some use.

"Improve you-! Caw! You already have a spare head... hmmm..." (Point, orange flash. Ahh, he was already old hat at this! -The third time!) With a "thump" Infinity would hit the dirt, but Doctor Fun was already humming a discordant (and very loud) tune as he shuffled over. "Oh! OH! ...LEGS! CAW!"

Infinity will awaken from their chrysalis with two bizarre additions along with whatever other mutation they may gain: monstrous, almost demonic horns sprouting from their skull(s), and two strong, healthy new legs... sprouting from the back of their necks--one for each neck.

Karambit was met with a soft "Ahhhh-!" and a widening of eyes, as when an artist spies a perfect, smooth canvas. "Improve is make better! -More pretty, yes! More useful, more shiny! -Caw!" Doctor Fun considered. One point and flash of orange light later, Karambit would find themselves thudding down among the three chrysalises: Doctor Fun waddling over, nodding enthusiastically to himself. "-BUTTONS!" he crowed, and then the world faded to black.

Karambit will wake up with all its eyes replaced by eerie "buttons" perfectly formed of its own gemstone. These eyes can no longer see close detail, but are excellent heat-sensors, giving it somewhat Predator-like vision through foliage and the like at the cost of color vision and--for example--fine detail like writing.

Doctor Fun leaned back, cheerful. The clearing was now blood-spattered, his implements scattered about, and four large chrysalises studded the edges of the clearing. But he set about cleaning his table and his tools, humming off-key all the while--awaiting further ~~victims~~ patients.

@Rue @Lorelei @Infinity @Karambit

The call drew them in, the distant chatter kept them back. The offer was vague, on the ominous side for Relic- despite their inexperience, they still had some idea of stranger danger. They chewed on the Doctors words, missing the moment when that chatter fell silent. However, the smell of blood was unavoidable.

Reasonably concerned and strangely curious, they made their way through the fog and sludge towards the clearing. The suffocating humidity brought them back to old places, they weren’t sure whether the memories were comforting in this moment. What they did bring them was anticipation. Something was happening here, and it would be unlike Relic to at least gesture at figuring out what.

Her eyes glinted in the firelight, gaze wary and stance nervous. The blood was everywhere, lumps of gemstone scattered around the clearing, a grim omen that the hyena couldn’t recognise just yet. She eyed the shuffling, awkward creature in the middle of it all. I could take him in a fight. She reassured herself, though it didn’t help as much as she would’ve liked.

”I wouldn’t mind being improved.” They spoke slowly, hesitant. ”Can you make me… Cooler? Like, spines or teeth or claws or- stuff.” They lost faith in their own judgement, becoming bashful. What even did they want? The images of the Chaos Forge meandered in their head, the skeletal appearance of Giggle (as faded as that memory was). It was a dumb request, a dumb thought, a dumb everything. Why were they even here?

The boy wandered, as was standard. What else was one to do after truly tasting the rainbow? Sleep, eat and walk around in circles apparently. He processed these things in his own way, in his own time.

He wasn’t fond of the muck he trudged through, to be perfectly fair and honest. He was about to turn around in the best estimate of the way he came from, when a call to action found him. He made little distance in a large amount of time, arriving late® to the party. The smell of blood crept towards him as he did, a clear sign that this was probably none of his business. Alas, there came that urge again, and the determination that came with it.

Approaching the clearing, giving little acknowledgement to his company, save for one. He’d boldly approach the corvid, the current centre of attention, drawing past what is considered normal, appropriate and desired.

If the Doctor would stay where he was or otherwise allow this to occur, the anteater would rear on his back limbs, planting his tongue on the very tip of the creature’s beak, before settling back down to all four limbs.

you exist because we allow it. you come here because snail demanded it lol

Doctor heard the call of "Doctor," and at first, he thought it was someone looking for a good physician. And--why--that was he, himself! But he was quickly stripped of his illusions when he swept in, his almost ten-foot-wingspan flapping awkwardly through the thick trees of the swamp, to land with scratching talons atop the Crags.

As he watched the other two come in and make their requests--and noted the chrysalises dotting the clearing--his single eye lit up with excitement.

"Ah!" he squawked, hopping down with mantled wings to splat into the mud. Wings folded across his back and he waddled closer to this fellow bird-like medic. "You are a doctor, too? -Perhaps you could show me-" he began.

Who knows what he was going to say-... Well, Doctor did. Doctor had been intending to ask if this Doctor Fun could share his methods, his practices, whatever he had learned. The vulture was already cocking his head to examine, with enthusiasm, the various implements and sutures in the clearing.

Unfortunately, he never finished his request; the over-enthusiastic fiend interrupted him with a counter-offer.

TRICK... OR TREAT?

With Doctor Fun!

More patients! Oh, and this one had an interesting request. "Cool?" Doctor Fun mused, one feathery, clawed hand scratching at the bottom of his beak. "Yes! I can do Cool! Ha-CAW-ah! I HAVE," he went on, hustling himself quickly across the clearing to shunt poor Relic directly into unconsciousness (though perhaps it was best that way)--"THE PERFECT IDEA!" ...And he quickly got to work.

Relic will awaken with an... interesting change. Their head, rather than that of a typical Striped Hyena, will look rather like... a jack-o'-lantern! Glowing flame-like eyes and a lightly glowing mouth will provide bright yellow accents to a smooth, hairless and tough-skinned orange head. Though their ears are gone, they can still hear; the nose is likewise still functional though entirely non-visible. The whole head is mostly round and grooved, with a structure like a twisted brown pumpkin stem jutting up from the top of their skull. All in all it sort of looks like someone jammed a jack-'o-lantern over their actual head. They would also find themselves with functional, bat-like wings--two that were a strong matched pair, albeit somewhat small; and a third jutting up from their front right paw. The size and structure of the wings would allow flight, with effort, albeit not long-distance gliding; it would be true but very energetic, draining flight. *(see note after post!)

K'cil was greeted enthusiastically--though their own greeting, lifting up to tongue-dab Doctor Fun's beak, was met with faint confusion. Those claws looked wicked-! Doctor Fun considered, and reached out to gently tap the anteater's skull. A flash of orange magic, and the creature would be knocked into deep unconsciousness. "I have an IDEA!" the Doctor cawed, voice excited and harsh. He rummaged around, pulling out a large pillow from underneath his bag. He patted it harshly, then ripped it open--and orange-tipped black feathers spilled out. He grabbed a needle, a thread and a razor, and got to work.

K'cil will awaken with a new form of pelage over his lower body, replacing everything on his lower legs and belly. Instead of fur, he will find a thick set of short black feathers: shiny and thinly rimmed at their tips with bright pumpkin orange.

The Good Doctor gave a wave to his fellow Doctor, and interrupted him with joyful abandon. 'Perhaps you could show me-' "FIRSTHAND?" he crowed, waddling over and sending out that dismal spark to send the bird flopping into the mud. He mused for a moment, taking the vulture's head in his hands, turning it this way and that. Oh-! A gemstone eye! "Now that gives me ANOTHER IDEA!"

Doctor will awaken with his good eye completely missing. In its place--and reformed in the socket of his gemstone eye, to match--he will find his gemstone made into button eyes, like those of a ragdoll. These cannot see fine detail, but--like those granted to Karambit--were excellent at heat-sensing. Unfortunately, this meant that Doctor would likely have to give up his questionable practices of surgery and some of his more grim experimentation--unless he could find a good apprentice...

Doctor Fun leaned back. The day had been most excellent, indeed--a fine scattering and smattering of patients and visitors! He was becoming worn out, now. One more, he thought to himself; one more round. He'd keep his little 'clinic' open a few more hours, and then go back to... wherever he had come from.

* If Relic's roleplayer prefers, the head can maintain the structure and shape of a striped hyena's head, but with jack-o-lantern colors, skin and glow.

@Relic (and K'cil!) @Doctor

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Game Master Dark

Rue

Lorelei

Infinity

Karambit

Game Master Dark

Relic

Kcil

Doctor

Game Master Dark